Match-day price protests set for October

Fans from across the country will make their feelings at ticket prices known with a weekend of action set to take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October.

Supporters’ groups from every top-flight club are set to take part along with many from the Football League and beyond. Match-goers will be highlighting the cost of match-tickets and call on clubs to cut ticket prices.

The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) says the problem of high ticket prices runs throughout the professional game and says fans from all leagues back the FSF’s “Twenty’s Plenty for Away Tickets” campaign.

Richard Scudamore yesterday acknowledged that away fans were a "special breed" and one of the Premier League's "unique strengths" – the FSF argues that clubs should cut the cost of away tickets across the entire league to recognise this.

Fan loyalty exploited

FSF Chief Executive Kevin Miles said: “Over the past 25 years money has flowed into football enriching players, owners, executives and agents – we think it’s about time fans saw some of the benefits too.

“Nine out of ten fans feel that football is too expensive but fans’ loyalty and commitment to their clubs is being exploited.

“The impact of rising prices has been particularly felt by away fans at Premier League level, who also have to contend with high travel costs and kick-off times changed for TV, and that’s why we’ve focussed on away fans with our “Twenty’s Plenty” campaign.

“It’s not just the Premier League where we see high prices though - every week we hear from fans unhappy at ticket costs lower down the pyramid.

“The FSF believes that prices have to come down and on the first weekend in October, fans from across the country will deliver that message – get in touch with the FSF if you’d like to join in.”

End categorisation

The national fans’ organisation also wants to see clubs end the application of “match categorisation” to away fans’ ticket prices, which unfairly penalises fans of certain clubs, and do more to make football affordable for younger supporters.

The FSF has called for a standardisation of junior concessions to under 18, and argues that clubs should implement a new concession category for 18 to 25-year-olds across-the-board.

Ticket prices can rise steeply once supporters graduate from children’s prices, and this often happens at a time when fans are entering full time education, low-paid apprenticeships or minimum wage jobs.

Supporters’ groups argue that should be reflected in match prices to ensure teenage fans don’t turn their backs on the live game during these formative years.

The increase in the latest domestic TV deal equates to more than £40 for every single fan, at every single top-flight game, and the FSF says that clubs have more than enough money to reduce prices throughout the leagues and to do more to support grassroots football.

The weekend of action will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October. If you’d like to get involved and display a banner, or create a visual display at your club, email tickets@fsf.org.uk - we can also offer advice and fans' group contacts.